BANNOCKBURN, IL -- IPC is reactivating its Halogen-Free Materials Subcommittee following indications that Europe might classify tetrabrominated bis-phenol A as a restricted substance under the next RoHS directive.

"TBBPA has now been rated as a Priority II material, which while not restricted from use at this point, is very likely to be restricted in what will be RoHS3.  However, it is entirely possible that such a use restriction on TBBPA could be attempted in less than one year from now if any EU member country [one of the Nordic countries of Denmark, Sweden or Norway] pushes the issue, as they often seem likely to do," said IPC director of PCB programs, standards and technology Tom Newton.

IPC director of environmental policy Fern Abrams "strongly suggests" that the subcommittee begin to gather data on the use, difficulties in replacing and of TBBPA in materials used in electronics, Newton added. 

The EU's Final Report indicates reacted-in/cross-linked TBBPA  is generally considered to be less hazardous than TPPBA, which is blended as an unreacted flame-retardant additive, Newton said.   

The subcommittee, which has been inactive since September 2011, will next meet Sept. 30 in Rosemont, IL, in conjunction with the SMTAI technical conference.